Norfolk school board terminates superintendent and appoints interim James Pohl

The Norfolk School Board voted on June 11, 2025, to terminate the contract of the superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools without cause and appointed Dr. James Pohl as interim superintendent effective immediately.

The board passed the termination resolution after a roll-call vote with four members voting "aye" and three voting "nay." The motion to terminate was moved and seconded on the record, and the subsequent resolution to certify the executive session referenced the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemptions for personnel and legal consultation.

The board chair read a resolution that "Doctor Sharon Birdsall, superintendent of schools pursuant to her contract of employment is hereby terminated without cause effective immediately." The motion to terminate was put forward on the floor and, after discussion and a roll call, the board approved the resolution. A later motion read and approved a resolution appointing Dr. James Pohl as interim superintendent "with all powers, duties and obligations of that position" and directing staff to negotiate an employment contract "as soon as practicable."

The vote on the termination included recorded votes: Bassin, Buffalo, Inge and Takalajero voted aye; Martin, Olson and Thomas voted nay. After the termination vote, the board moved to agenda item 3.02 and appointed Dr. Pohl; the roll call on that appointment returned affirmative votes and the resolution passed.

Board members and at least one member of the board made extended remarks on and off the record about board leadership and process before the termination vote. One member said in a prepared statement that the chair's recent conduct had "undermined the board's credibility" and had contributed to "a culture of bullying, disrespect, and unprofessional conduct," and said they would not support the separation agreement. Another member described the day as "a troubling day" for employees and students and criticized the timing of the termination during sensitive work on school closings and consolidations.

The motions and votes recorded on the transcript are as follows: a motion to terminate the superintendent without cause (mover: recorded on the minutes as presented by board member Tiffany Moore-Buffalo; second: recorded as Inge), which the board approved by roll call (ayes: Bassin, Buffalo, Inge, Takalajero; nays: Martin, Olson, Thomas). A subsequent motion to appoint Dr. James Pohl as interim superintendent was introduced and the board approved it by recorded roll call. The meeting also included earlier a certified closed-session resolution invoked under subsections of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act permitting discussion of personnel and legal advice.

No separation agreement terms, severance amounts, or personnel file details were read into the public record during the open session; the resolution states the termination is "without cause" and effective immediately. The board certified after the closed session that only topics identified in the motion were discussed in closed session in conformance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

The appointment resolution instructs staff to negotiate an employment contract and present it to Dr. Pohl; the board directed staff to return matters that require board approval, such as the final contract and any separation-agreement terms, to a future public meeting.

Speakers identified in the meeting record included the board members who moved and seconded the motions and several board members who registered their opposition on the record. Public- and board-member remarks criticizing leadership and board conduct were made during the agenda discussion immediately before the termination vote.

The board also approved the personnel report later in the meeting by roll call vote.

The district lists the superintendent position as vacated effective 06/11/2025 and has named Dr. James Pohl interim superintendent pending negotiation and approval of contract terms.